A 29-year-old man who denies assaulting another to his severe injury and danger of life will stand trial by jury on September 8.
Brian Cassie, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, appeared on indictment and denied repeatedly punching a man on the head, seizing him by the body, and dragging him to the ground and repeatedly stamping and jumping on his head as he lay on the floor, rendering him unconscious, all to his severe injury, permanent impairment, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.
The offence is alleged to have happened at the Bridge Inn, Galashiels, on August 18 last year. A further first hearing was set for August 28.
FRAUD CASED DESERTED
A 35-year-old man, accused of obtaining more than £28,000 benefit by fraud, had his case deserted pro loco et tempore (for the time being) at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Friday.
Darren Hayes, 35, formerly of High Street, Hawick, and now living at Mayfield Place, Falkirk, denied obtaining £28,296.03 benefit by fraud at a house in Weensland Road, Hawick, between June 26, 2007, and November 6, 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to failing to report a change in circumstances between January 26, 2007, and June 24, 2007, at Waterfoot Road, Annan, by failing to report his employment at Applegarth Health Care and Blackwell Vale Care Home.
SHOUTING AND SWEARING
A Hawick woman who committed a breach of the peace was fined £160.
Beverly Simpson, 38, of Duke Street, admitted shouting and swearing at a house in Allars Crescent, Hawick, on August 30 last year.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told the hearing: “At 4.40pm, the occupants were at home when they heard banging at the front door and found the accused there with others. She was shouting about money that had been stolen from her mother and there was a struggle with two others.
“She was put out of the house and the police were called by unknown persons and she was traced.”
Her solicitor, Rory Bannerman, said his client had expressed “appropriate remorse” for the incident.
TRIAL DATE FOR JED YOUTH
A Jedburgh teenager will stand trial on July 17 after he denied stealing charity boxes.
Nathan Brown also pleaded not guilty to recklessly throwing fireworks onto the roadway and a common stair, to the danger of woman there.
The 17-year-old, who lives at Howdenburn Court, is alleged to have stolen a charity tin and contents at Canongate, Jedburgh, on October 28 last year. He also denies stealing keys at Allsorts, Bongate, Jedburgh, on October 26.
The teenager tendered a not-guilty plea to a charge of stealing ladders at Smiths Wynd, Jedburgh, on October 27, and breaking into a shop in Jedburgh High Street and stealing charity boxes and contents, knives, gloves and spray paint on the same date.
Brown further denies culpably and recklessly throwing fireworks onto a roadway, bin and common stair at Honeyfield Road, Blair Avenue and Howden Road, Jedburgh, to the danger of a woman there, on November 1.
All the offences are alleged to have been committed while acting with others.
A further intermediate hearing was set for July 10.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A man who assaulted his ex- partner at a house in Hawick had sentence further deferred until July 25 after the court heard a previously-ordered report was not yet available.
Brian Potts, 28, of Anderson Place, Hawick, admitted throwing a lighter at his former partner which struck her on the face, to her injury, at Laidlaw Terrace on May 20.
NO MEMORY OF OFFENCE
A Hawick man, found in a mill in suspicious circumstances, claimed to have no recollection of the offence after taking Valium tablets.
Christopher Scott, 31, of Orchard Terrace, admitted being found in Johnstons of Elgin at Mansfield Road, Hawick, on March 19 in circumstances it may be reasonably inferred he intended to commit theft.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told how a woman from a nearby business spotted Scott, who was wearing a camouflage jacket with the hood up and carrying a black rucksack, going into the building.
Mr Fraser went on: “He was seen heading for the fire exit and had a dark-coloured garment, so was escorted from the premises by an employee. His speech was slurred and eyes dilated, and appeared to be under the influence of something.”
When police spoke to Scott, who was captured on CCTV, he said he had taken Valium. “He said he had no memory of the last eight hours,” added Mr Fraser.
Rory Bannerman, defending, said his client recalled little of what he did that day, adding: “He had taken significantly more diazepam than he should have. When challenged, he put the garment down and fully co-operated by leaving the premises.”
Sentence was deferred until August 8 for reports.
STREET CONFRONTATION
A woman who admitted committing a breach of the peace in Jedburgh High Street following a confrontation with her former partner and his new girlfriend had sentence deferred for four months to be of good behaviour.
Shawney Walker, 21, of McLagan Drive, Hawick, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened on May 16.
Prosecutor Graham Fraser described the incident, which occurred at 10.15am, as “not a very edifying performance”.
When arrested by police, Walker’s reply to caution was: “Sound.”
Defending, Rory Bannerman explained: “Her former partner and his new girlfriend confronted her in the street, and he had been aggressive towards her and his new girlfriend grabbed her by the hair.”
Sheriff John Halley told Walker: “I take account of the circumstances, but it is still completely unacceptable.”
DENIES RACIAL AGGRAVATION
A Hawick man who denies racially-aggravated assault will stand trial on October 30, with an intermediate hearing on October 3.
Kevin Brown, 45, of Queens Drive, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at Mansfield Road, Hawick, on June 1, acting in a racially-aggravated manner and making racist remarks. He also denies acting in a racially-aggravated manner at Bothwell Court, Hawick, on the same date.
Brown was granted bail, with a condition not to contact the complainer or his wife.
BANNED FOR 18 MONTHS
Driving a car when almost three times the alcohol limit cost Judith Hunt a £300 fine and an 18-month disqualification.
Hunt, 59, of Skirling Road, Skirling, admitted driving on the A72 near Skirling on April 26 with a breath/alcohol reading of 103 mcgs – the legal limit being 35.
The court heard how police received an anonymous call about the manner of the accused’s driving and went to her home.
The car engine was still warm and Hunt – who was smelling strongly of alcohol and unsteady on her feet – confirmed she had been driving.
The first offender was said to have realised she shouldn’t be driving and decided to return home.
DANGEROUS DOG CASE
A woman who denies being in charge of an Airdale terrier which was dangerously out of control and attacked a four-year-old child, to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement, will stand trial by jury on September 8.
Karissa Johnstone had a further first hearing set for August 28. Johnstone, 20, of Eildon Road, Hawick, appeared on indictment and denied committing an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act in the Borders last May.
The dog is alleged to have jumped on the child, causing her to fall to the ground, and bitten her on the head.
OFFENDER ADMONISHED
After being of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence, Steven Wylie was admonished.
The 31-year-old, of Beech Avenue in Galashiels, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house at Thistle Street in the town on October 13 last year.